Biscay, August, with family

[RJJ]

Hello

Plan A was to go to the Med this summer in delivery mode and for wife and kids to meet there, before working back towards Canaries and ARC. Discussed here. Thanks again for helpful advice.

Passage planning UK to greece

For real-world reasons, Plan A is in the bin, which I regard as favourable. Plan B is therefore to leave a little later en famille and sail down the Atlantic coast only, in less of a hurry. This was recommended by several respondents before and I am delighted about.

So my question now is: the Biscay crossing is now a family affair. Comments welcomed on my plan, which is to meet extra crew in Brittany in early Aug and allow a fortnight window to cross to A Corina - giving at least ten days to sit out in Brittany for weather if we have to. Extra crew have indicated they can commit for a third week if we decide so now.

Boat is a 44 foot deep fin, so in favourable conditions we honk along. But given family on board, I will be extra-cautious about a departure window.

Kids are 6 and 8 and have a few hundred miles, including a couple of windy channel crossings to St vaas and back. Wife is DS with 2000 miles. 2x extra crew are experienced and can both stand watch.

thanks.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

3 days from Camaret, forecasts are good so with potentially 3 weeks to wait for a window should be no problem. I would caution against going further down the French coast before starting to cross.

 

[scotty123]

Hello

Plan A was to go to the Med this summer in delivery mode and for wife and kids to meet there, before working back towards Canaries and ARC. Discussed here. Thanks again for helpful advice.

Passage planning UK to greece

For real-world reasons, Plan A is in the bin, which I regard as favourable. Plan B is therefore to leave a little later en famille and sail down the Atlantic coast only, in less of a hurry. This was recommended by several respondents before and I am delighted about.

So my question now is: the Biscay crossing is now a family affair. Comments welcomed on my plan, which is to meet extra crew in Brittany in early Aug and allow a fortnight window to cross to A Corina - giving at least ten days to sit out in Brittany for weather if we have to. Extra crew have indicated they can commit for a third week if we decide so now.

Boat is a 44 foot deep fin, so in favourable conditions we honk along. But given family on board, I will be extra-cautious about a departure window.

Kids are 6 and 8 and have a few hundred miles, including a couple of windy channel crossings to St vaas and back. Wife is DS with 2000 miles. 2x extra crew are experienced and can both stand watch.

thanks.

If you are going direct, you are looking at a 3 day trip, onviously with no stops en route. Once you have departed, imo you have to keep going, heading into coast should bad weather arrive, offers more risks than staying out. Your main issue, will be 24hr watchkeeping, which if only family, can put pressure upon the skipper, even in clement weather.

 

[LadyInBed]

Agreed. Camaret as a jump off point, a good place to wait with bus service to visit Brest and other ports.
I've crossed from there several times it takes me 3.5 to 4 days. A strange word of caution - you can pick too good a weather window! On my crossing in 2018 I motored nearly all the way, a hi gh sat over Biscay and stuck there. I assume you ha ve either an inner forestay or cruising shute, as yourcrossing should be all down wind, I ditch my main and run on twin head sails.
See my crossings on my website, 2018 to Portugal isn't there yet due to laziness!

 

[RJJ]

If you are going direct, you are looking at a 3 day trip, onviously with no stops en route. Once you have departed, imo you have to keep going, heading into coast should bad weather arrive, offers more risks than staying out. Your main issue, will be 24hr watchkeeping, which if only family, can put pressure upon the skipper, even in clement weather.

Thanks, yes, the plan is 2 extra grownups. Default position is: the missus is domestic 1st mate and there are 3 of us to do the sailing.

 

[timmygobang]

Similar experience as LadyInBed. Motored for about 3 days and sailed the rest in August 2018. The best investment on that trip was the AIS receiver/transponder IMO. Previous crossing was another story though, but that was probably down to the skippers eagerness to get going. You just need to pick your time when the weather is at it's most stable and the various weather models agree with each other.

I blogged my crossing if it's of any interest.
Today I bought a boat

Definitely worth anchoring off Terrestre de las Illas Atlánticas and if you have time, go to the Donkey festival!!

 

[RJJ]

I assume you ha ve either an inner forestay or cruising shute, as yourcrossing should be all down wind, I ditch my main and run on twin head sails.

We can fly out #2 and #3 headsails as twins with one poled out. We also have a big symmetric kite with snuffer. We have an inner forestay with a reefable staysail

 

[Roberto]

...

If you have additional time, I would definitely try and leave earlier say mid-June July and spend more time in Galicia before heading south. Or leave the UK in June, spend July cruising South Brittany, when you find a suitable weather forecast cross to Coruña, cruise there + rias baixas for a few weeks. Once you decide to go south along Portugal say mid-end August you may be in the 200M/day range, it can go very fast.

 

[RobbieW]

If you have additional time, I would definitely try and leave earlier say mid-June July and spend more time in Galicia before heading south. Or leave the UK in June, spend July cruising South Brittany, when you find a suitable weather forecast cross to Coruña, cruise there + rias baixas for a few weeks. Once you decide to go south along Portugal say mid-end August you may be in the 200M/day range, it can go very fast.

+1 to that

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

If you are leaving from somewhere in Brittany a and heading for Cabo Fisterra, you will find that you are more or less in the main shipping lane. The ships as a rule keep left southbound and right northbound. Your Class 'B' AIS and radar will enable you to sail down the "central reservation" (on a course of 220 deg T, AFAIR) . You will find that approaching vessels will be aware of your presence from about twenty miles ahead or astern and will be seen to alter course a few degrees, if necessary, to overtake.
In my experience they never approached any nearer than about 2.5 miles. In any case your AIS will warn you of any close quarters encounter.
In late September/ early October, the Galician western coast can be prone to heavy fog - if entering a harbour, such as A Coruna or Baiona, in fog, after daybreak on a Saturday or Sunday morning, beware of multitudinous unlit, non-AIS, small angling craft emerging uncautiously at speed! The displacement craft can be avoided but small fast moving ribs barely show up on radar and can almost collide.

 

[differentroads]

Similar experience as LadyInBed. Motored for about 3 days and sailed the rest in August 2018. The best investment on that trip was the AIS receiver/transponder IMO...

I had a day and a half motoring in a flat calm crossing from Falmouth to A Coruna two years ago. Eerie, isn't it?

+1 on the AIS front. I also used a shipping density map to plan a route that kept me 5 to 10 miles off the Ushant to Finisterre shipping route. Comfortably in radio range but sufficiently far not to worry about them. Marinetraffic now has a shipping density feature on its AIS app which I use to check routes when passage planning. Looks like this

 

[[3889]]

My Biscay strategy is: Westerlies, depart Loctudy, Southerlies, depart Ile de Yeu. E or N is not an issue so leave from wherever. 3 day forecasts are pretty sound so don't get hung up about which month - I've crossed comfortably in all of them. With your timescale Camaret seems to introduce a completely unnecessary tidal gate.
I appreciate your strategic goals but you will miss fabulous sailing in N Spain and decent sailing in W France, if feasible day sailing around the coast of the bay is not to be missed (apart from the 100 miles of sand dunes twixt the Gironde and Bayonne, perhaps).

 

[HunterWanderer]

Good plan but I would suggest waiting at Bennodet for a good forecast then cross to A Corona but carry on if weather is good round to perhaps Caramarinas, Muros or Caraminal. Your crew and family should enjoy a few days there. Good transport links as well.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Did it last July singlehanded from Falmouth but didn't stop until I was in valencia.
3 weeks for a weather window? You only need 3-4 days. There's caution and then pessimism. If you're planning on crossing the atlantic you probably need a bit of challenging weather before you start to build a little confidence in your boat and crew.
i'm not sure threading in between the lanes is a top tip. Much easier to be outside or inside both. It will give you more options if the wind and waves aren't ideal.

 

[Muddy32]

My Biscay strategy is: Westerlies, depart Loctudy, Southerlies, depart Ile de Yeu. E or N is not an issue so leave from wherever. 3 day forecasts are pretty sound so don't get hung up about which month - I've crossed comfortably in all of them. With your timescale Camaret seems to introduce a completely unnecessary tidal gate.
I appreciate your strategic goals but you will miss fabulous sailing in N Spain and decent sailing in W France, if feasible day sailing around the coast of the bay is not to be missed (apart from the 100 miles of sand dunes twixt the Gironde and Bayonne, perhaps).

+1 going down the French coast to Hendaye and then along the North coast gives you approx 50 mile legs, easy peacy, and family friendly. Take your time and enjoy the ports and beaches before the RIAs.

 

[geem]

Hello

Plan A was to go to the Med this summer in delivery mode and for wife and kids to meet there, before working back towards Canaries and ARC. Discussed here. Thanks again for helpful advice.

Passage planning UK to greece

For real-world reasons, Plan A is in the bin, which I regard as favourable. Plan B is therefore to leave a little later en famille and sail down the Atlantic coast only, in less of a hurry. This was recommended by several respondents before and I am delighted about.

So my question now is: the Biscay crossing is now a family affair. Comments welcomed on my plan, which is to meet extra crew in Brittany in early Aug and allow a fortnight window to cross to A Corina - giving at least ten days to sit out in Brittany for weather if we have to. Extra crew have indicated they can commit for a third week if we decide so now.

Boat is a 44 foot deep fin, so in favourable conditions we honk along. But given family on board, I will be extra-cautious about a departure window.

Kids are 6 and 8 and have a few hundred miles, including a couple of windy channel crossings to St vaas and back. Wife is DS with 2000 miles. 2x extra crew are experienced and can both stand watch.

thanks.

We did IOS to Corina. Two nights at sea. Just my and wife onboard. Also 44ft. We left IOS from southern anchorage before daylight and arrived Corina before dark on third day. The reality is its all weather dependant. Get an nice beam/broad reach and you will eat the miles. Wind on the nose and you wife and kids will never forgive you?

 

[RJJ]

We did IOS to Corina. Two nights at sea. Just my and wife onboard. Also 44ft. We left IOS from southern anchorage before daylight and arrived Corina before dark on third day. The reality is its all weather dependant. Get an nice beam/broad reach and you will eat the miles. Wind on the nose and you wife and kids will never forgive you?

Wife has just about forgiven me for a fine reach to St Vaas in 27 knots, with wind against tide for much of it. The kids and I thought it was ace ?

 

[[163233]]

You should be able to pick the weather, so make sure you do.

I recommend Muros very highly, the guys at the marina there helped me out a lot.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

My Biscay strategy is: Westerlies, depart Loctudy, Southerlies, depart Ile de Yeu. E or N is not an issue so leave from wherever. 3 day forecasts are pretty sound so don't get hung up about which month - I've crossed comfortably in all of them. With your timescale Camaret seems to introduce a completely unnecessary tidal gate.
I appreciate your strategic goals but you will miss fabulous sailing in N Spain and decent sailing in W France, if feasible day sailing around the coast of the bay is not to be missed (apart from the 100 miles of sand dunes twixt the Gironde and Bayonne, perhaps).

Re my post #10 ; looking at the density of that traffic, I realise now that we must not have been in the main sea lane, but just encountering outliers. They did, invariably, though, pass to starboard when approaching from forward, and all vessels overtaking did so to port, and at at such a distance as to not cause any anxiety.